Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Previewing Games 6 and 7

The Phillies certainly made it interesting last night, didn't they? But a win is a win, and the Phillies will be returning to Yankee Stadium for one or two more World Series games, so let's preview them!
Game 6 will be played Wednesday night and will feature Pedro Martinez pitching for the Phillies against Andy Pettitte for the Yankees. Martinez started Game 2 of the World Series in Yankee Stadium, allowing three runs in six innings while taking the loss. In that game, Martinez struck out eight batters while walking only two and he surrendered solo home runs to Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui. Pettitte will be making the start on three days' rest. In his career, Pettitte has fifteen career starts on three days rest, and has a 4-6 record with a 4.15 ERA in those games but has not started on short rest since 2003 when he was a member of the Houston Astros. Pettitte surrendered four runs in six innings in Game 3 of the World Series, allowing a pair of home runs to Jayson Werth.
If the Phillies win Game 6, they will force a Game 7 to be played in Yankee Stadium on Thrusday night. The probable pitching matchup will feature Cole Hamels for the Phillies against CC Sabathia for the Yankees. Hamels has been much maligned for his performance this postseason and for comments he made after Game 3 suggesting that he was ready for the season to end. In spite of this, Hamels is still the correct choice to start in this game. As stated before, having a left-hander pitch in Yankee Stadium is a huge advantage. Additionally, Hamels was the World Series MVP last year and much of his struggles this year can be attributed to bad luck. If Hamels struggles, left-handed starters Cliff Lee and J.A. Happ will be available out of the bullpen. Sabathia will be making his second consecutive World Series start on three days' rest but he has pitched well on short rest in his career. In the World Series, Sabathia is a 0-1 with a 3.29 ERA.

My predictions:

Game 6: Werth goes deep again and sends Pettitte out of the game in the fifth inning. Martinez shines for seven strong innings and the bullpen barely hangs on. Phillies 5, Yankees 3

Game 7: Hamels cruises through the first five innings and starts running into trouble in the 6th and 7th inning. Lee comes out of the bullpen and records key outs. The Phillies scrape together a few runs off of Sabathia who leaves in the sixth inning.

Phillies 5, Yankees 4

1 comment:

  1. If Charlie was going to start Happ, the time to do so would have been game 6. Happ is as ready as he's going to be, but Pedro could benefit from an extra day of rest.

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